Clutch and gear arrangement for a front wheel drive vehicle

Abstract

A front wheel drive transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes arranged within a transmission housing. Each of the clutches and the brakes are located within specific areas defined by the planetary gear sets and the housing walls.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A transaxle comprising:
 an input member; 
 an output member; 
 a housing having a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall extending between the first and second walls; 
 first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets disposed within the housing, wherein the first planetary gear set is adjacent the first wall, the third planetary gear set is adjacent second wall, the fourth planetary gear set is adjacent the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set is between the fourth and third planetary gear sets, each planetary gear set having a sun gear member, a ring gear member, and a planet carrier member supporting a plurality of planet gears each configured to intermesh with both the sun gear member and the ring gear member, and wherein the sun gear member of the first planetary gear set is permanently coupled to the sun gear member of the fourth planetary gear set, the ring gear member of the first planetary gear set is permanently coupled to the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set, the ring gear member of the second planetary gear set is permanently coupled to the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set, the ring gear member of the third planetary gear set is permanently coupled to the planet carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set, the input member is permanently coupled to the planet carrier member of the first planetary gear set, and the output member is permanently coupled to the planet carrier member of the third planetary gear set, and 
 wherein the housing has a first area defined radially inward from an outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the first wall and the first planetary gear set, a second area defined radially inward from the outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the first and fourth planetary gear sets, a third area defined radially inward from the outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the fourth and second planetary gear sets, a fourth area defined radially inward from the outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the second and third planetary gear sets, a fifth area defined radially inward from the outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the third planetary gear set and the second wall, and a sixth area defined radially inward from the third wall and radially outward from the outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the first wall and the second wall, 
 a first clutch disposed in at least one of the third, fourth, and sixth areas; 
 a second clutch disposed in at least one of the first, third, fourth, and fifth areas; 
 a third clutch disposed in at least one of the first, fourth, fifth and sixth areas; 
 a first brake disposed in at least one of the first, second, fifth, and sixth areas; 
 a second brake disposed in at least one of the first, second, third, fifth, and sixth areas, and 
 wherein the clutches and the brakes are selectively engageable to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member, 
 a transfer gear train having a first transfer gear intermeshed with a second transfer gear, wherein the first transfer gear is rotatably fixed to the output member and the second transfer gear is rotatably fixed to an intermediate shaft; 
 a differential gear set for driving a pair of road wheels; 
 a pinion gear rotatably fixed to the intermediate shaft; and 
 an input differential gear in mesh with the pinion gear and configured to rotatably drive the differential gear set. 
 
     
     
       2. The transaxle of  claim 1  wherein the first clutch is selectively engageable to interconnect the planet carrier member of the second planetary gear set with at least one of the planet carrier member of the third planetary gear set and the output member, the second clutch is selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set and the ring gear member of the first planetary gear set with at least one of the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear member of the second planetary gear set, the third clutch is selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear member of the second planetary gear set with at least one of the planet carrier member of the first planetary gear set and the input member, the first brake is selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the sun gear member of the first planetary gear set and the sun gear member of the fourth planetary gear set with the housing, and the second brake is selectively engageable to interconnect the ring gear member of the fourth planetary gear set with the housing. 
     
     
       3. The transaxle of  claim 2  wherein the first clutch is disposed in the third area, the second clutch is disposed in the fourth area, the third clutch is disposed in the fifth area, the first brake is disposed in the second area, and the second brake is disposed in the second area. 
     
     
       4. A transaxle comprising:
 an input member; 
 an output member; 
 a housing having a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall extending between the first and second walls; 
 first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets disposed within the housing, wherein the first planetary gear set is adjacent the first wall, the third planetary gear set is adjacent second wall, the fourth planetary gear set is adjacent the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set is between the fourth and third planetary gear sets, each planetary gear set having a sun gear member, a ring gear member, and a planet carrier member supporting a plurality of planet gears each configured to intermesh with both the sun gear member and the ring gear member, and wherein the sun gear member of the first planetary gear set is permanently coupled to the sun gear member of the fourth planetary gear set, the ring gear member of the first planetary gear set is permanently coupled to the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set, the ring gear member of the second planetary gear set is permanently coupled to the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set, the ring gear member of the third planetary gear set is permanently coupled to the planet carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set, the input member is permanently coupled to the planet carrier member of the first planetary gear set, and the output member is permanently coupled to the planet carrier member of the third planetary gear set, and 
 wherein the housing has a first area defined radially inward from an outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the first wall and the first planetary gear set, a second area defined radially inward from the outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the first and fourth planetary gear sets, a third area defined radially inward from the outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the fourth and second planetary gear sets, a fourth area defined radially inward from the outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the second and third planetary gear sets, a fifth area defined radially inward from the outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the third planetary gear set and the second wall, and a sixth area defined radially inward from the third wall and radially outward from the outer periphery of the planetary gear sets and axially bounded by the first wall and the second wall, 
 a first clutch disposed in at least one of the third, fourth, and sixth areas; 
 a second clutch disposed in at least one of the first, third, fourth, and fifth areas; 
 a third clutch disposed in at least one of the first, fourth, fifth and sixth areas; 
 a first brake disposed in at least one of the first, second, fifth, and sixth areas; 
 a second brake disposed in at least one of the first, second, third, fifth, and sixth areas, and 
 wherein the clutches and the brakes are selectively engageable to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member, 
 a power transfer assembly having a first transfer gear and a second transfer gear, wherein the first transfer gear is rotatably fixed to the output member and the second transfer gear is rotatably fixed to a drive shaft; 
 a power transfer member rotatably coupling the first and second transfer gears for transferring rotational energy from the first transfer gear to the second transfer gear; 
 a final drive planetary gear set coupled to the drive shaft for receiving a driving torque from the second transfer gear; and 
 a differential gear set coupled to the final drive planetary gear set and to a pair of road wheels for receiving a final drive rotational torque and transferring the final drive torque to the pair of road wheels. 
 
     
     
       5. The transaxle of  claim 4  wherein the power transfer member is a chain or a belt. 
     
     
       6. The transaxle of  claim 5  wherein the first clutch is selectively engageable to interconnect the planet carrier member of the second planetary gear set with at least one of the planet carrier member of the third planetary gear set and the output member, the second clutch is selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set and the ring gear member of the first planetary gear set with at least one of the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear member of the second planetary gear set, the third clutch is selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear member of the second planetary gear set with at least one of the planet carrier member of the first planetary gear set and the input member, the first brake is selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the sun gear member of the first planetary gear set and the sun gear member of the fourth planetary gear set with the housing, and the second brake is selectively engageable to interconnect the ring gear member of the fourth planetary gear set with the housing. 
     
     
       7. The transaxle of  claim 6  wherein the first clutch is disposed in the third area, the second clutch is disposed in the fourth area, the third clutch is disposed in the fifth area, the first brake is disposed in the second area, and the second brake is disposed in the second area. 
     
     
       8. A transaxle comprising:
 an input member; 
 an output member; 
 a housing having a first wall, a second wall, and a third wall extending between the first and second walls; 
 first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets disposed within the housing, wherein the first planetary gear set is adjacent the first wall, the third planetary gear set is adjacent second wall, the fourth planetary gear set is adjacent the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set is between the fourth and third planetary gear sets, each planetary gear set having a sun gear member, a ring gear member, and a planet carrier member supporting a plurality of planet gears each configured to intermesh with both the sun gear member and the ring gear member; 
 a first member continuously connecting the sun gear member of the first planetary gear set with the sun gear member of the fourth planetary gear set, wherein the first member is at least partially disposed axially between the first and fourth planetary gear sets; 
 a second member continuously connecting the ring gear member of the first planetary gear set with the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set, wherein the second member is at least partially disposed radially inwardly of the first member; 
 a third member continuously connecting the ring gear member of the second planetary gear set with the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set, wherein the third member is disposed at least partially axially between the second and third planetary gear sets; 
 a fourth member continuously connecting the ring gear member of the third planetary gear set with the planet carrier member of the fourth planetary gear set, wherein the fourth member is disposed radially outwardly of the third member; 
 a first clutch selectively engageable to interconnect the planet carrier member of the second planetary gear set with at least one of the planet carrier member of the third planetary gear set and the output member; 
 a second clutch selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the sun gear member of the second planetary gear set and the ring gear member of the first planetary gear set with at least one of the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear member of the second planetary gear set; 
 a third clutch selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the sun gear member of the third planetary gear set and the ring gear member of the second planetary gear set with at least one of the planet carrier member of the first planetary gear set and the input member; 
 a first brake selectively engageable to interconnect at least one of the sun gear member of the first planetary gear set and the sun gear member of the fourth planetary gear set with the housing; and 
 a second brake selectively engageable to interconnect the ring gear member of the fourth planetary gear set with the housing, and 
 wherein the clutches and the brakes are selectively engageable to establish at least eight forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio between the input member and the output member. 
 
     
     
       9. The transaxle of  claim 8  wherein the input member is permanently coupled to the planet carrier member of the first planetary gear set. 
     
     
       10. The transaxle of  claim 8  wherein the output member is permanently coupled to the planet carrier member of the third planetary gear set. 
     
     
       11. The transaxle of  claim 8  wherein the input member and the output member are at least partially disposed through the second wall of the housing. 
     
     
       12. The transaxle of  claim 8  wherein the first clutch is disposed radially inwardly of the fourth member. 
     
     
       13. The transaxle of  claim 12  wherein the second clutch is disposed radially inwardly of the first, second, and fourth members. 
     
     
       14. The transaxle of  claim 13  wherein the third clutch is disposed radially inwardly of the output member. 
     
     
       15. The transaxle of  claim 14  wherein the first brake is disposed radially outwardly of the first and second members. 
     
     
       16. The transaxle of  claim 15  wherein the second brake is disposed radially outwardly of the first and second members. 
     
     
       17. The transaxle of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a transfer gear train having a first transfer gear intermeshed with a second transfer gear, wherein the first transfer gear is rotatably fixed to the output member and the second transfer gear is rotatably fixed to an intermediate shaft; 
 a differential gear set for driving a pair of road wheels; 
 a pinion gear rotatably fixed to the intermediate shaft; and 
 an input differential gear in mesh with the pinion gear and configured to rotatably drive the differential gear set. 
 
     
     
       18. The transaxle of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a power transfer assembly having a first transfer gear and a second transfer gear, wherein the first transfer gear is rotatably fixed to the output member and the second transfer gear is rotatably fixed to a drive shaft; 
 a power transfer member rotatably coupling the first and second transfer gears for transferring rotational energy from the first transfer gear to the second transfer gear; 
 a final drive planetary gear set coupled to the drive shaft for receiving a driving torque from the second transfer gear; and 
 a differential gear set coupled to the final drive planetary gear set and to a pair of road wheels for receiving a final drive rotational torque and transferring the final drive torque to the pair of road wheels.